How to align the organizational structure with the work processes (Video – 3 of 5)

So when we design the formal structure of an organization, it should improve rather than obstruct process performance.

But all too often, the structure and the processes are poorly aligned. Accountability for process performance is blurred. Multiple layers of managers slow down decision making. Activities that should be tightly integrated are instead separated.

How can we avoid this? In this video, I describe one approach.

I present the FRAPS tool, which stands for “FRamework for Aligning Process and Structure”:

The tool is particularly useful when you evaluate two sets of processes or two sets of roles against each other. Here are some examples:

“Marketing and sales – should they be grouped together or should they remain separate (and report to two different managers)?

Should we outsource manufacturing (and by implication, separate it from engineering, which is still going to be internal)?

Should customer support and sales be integrated?

Although the tool itself is simple – it is just a 2×2 diagram – it summarizes a large body of theory and research on organization design. The principle behind the diagram is powerful yet frequently neglected. The purpose is to ensure that the formal structure (in particular, the boundaries between units) matches the resource and information flows.

This is the third video in my series about “five organization design ideas that may change the world”. You can view the previous two videos here and here.

P.S. If you want more information about this approach, consult chapter 5 and 7 of my book (see particularly page 168).

About

The purpose of this blog is to provide research based advice for managers who want to design a more effective organization.
I am an associate professor at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences.
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